Golf Station and Instruction Ideas in Physical Education

Golf as we know it today originated from a game played on the eastern coast of Scotland where players would hit a pebble around a natural course of sand dunes, rabbit runs, and tracks using a stick or handmade club. Golf is a sport that truly has lifetime implications. People of all ages, men and women, boys and girls alike enjoy it, and is an activity that can be taught in all levels of Physical Education.

Golf teaches mental discipline, and mathematical skills for calculation, angle, wind speed, and scoring. Golf is both an individual sport that can be played that way or in a team format. It is an excellent way to stay fit throughout life, and at the same time enjoy everything that the outdoors has to offer.

By providing these station activities, students are able to have variety in skill development within independent/group practice time. Students’ motivation, interest, and engagement rise when variety is involved. At the bottom of this article, I provided a possible layout for how an indoor set of golf stations could be set up, but the stations could also work outdoors. It is important to emphasize safety before any equipment is used. Golf can also be a frustrating sport to learn due the to the margin of error. Encourage your students through the lesson and celebrate even the smallest of successes!

Have fun, be creative, and teach on!

COMMON GOLF VOCABULARY TERMS TO ADD TO YOUR WORD WALL

Golf Station Ideas

1. Drive (Full Swing)

How to teach a full swing:

The club head should rest on the ground in the center of your stance behind the ball.

1. Begin your swing by lifting the club back behind you.
2. Continue your backswing until the club is over your shoulder.
3. Begin your swing forward toward the ball.
4. Contact the ball in the center of the club.
5. Continue your follow-through swing forward until the club is over your shoulder.

• Keep your head still and faced down
• Extend your arms through your swing

Organizational Tips:

– 2-4 hitting lanes (see layout below)
– Students participate individually, with a partner, or small group depending on the size of your class.
– Safety is key. Students who are waiting should be standing well behind the student swinging the golf club.

Chipping:

How to teach chipping:

– The club should rest on the ground and the ball should be positioned toward the back foot of your stance creating a downward hit on the ball.

1. Begin your swing by lifting the club back behind you.
2. Continue making a short “putting” backstroke.
3. Begin your swing forward toward the ball.
4. Contact the ball in the center of the club.
5. Continue with a shortened finish/follow through.

• Keep your head still and faced down.
• Extend your arms through your swing.
  • Students will have an objective to hit the ball into the target nets to gauge depth perception and distance control of the shot.

Equipment Used to Practice Chipping:

Putting:

How to teach putting:

• The putter should rest on the ground in the center of your stance behind the ball.
  • Your stance should be with feet should width apart.
  • The ball should be close to your body with your head looking over the ball.
  • Begin making your stroke with the shoulders not your hands like a pendulum.
  • Your club should go straight back and straight through to contact the ball.
• Students should continue putting until the ball goes into the hole and should learn distance control for the shot.

Putting Stations Layout Options:

Putting skill activities could be done indoors or out on a baseball diamond, tennis court, basketball court, sidewalk, or general playground blacktop.

– Preset mini-golf course
– Set out misc. equipment for students to design their own mini-golf course
– Golf holes/Targets preset for a general putting practice green

Equipment to practice putting:

Golf Lesson Layout: